The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has insisted that the Tokyo Olympics will be protected from COVID-19, but the rise in cases of the virus in Japan has raised doubts about the safety of the Games, and especially the Japanese public. Health experts say that due to the Olympic Games, there could be a severe outbreak of the virus in the country. Only 15% of the people in the country have got the vaccine. Many of them are over 65 years of age. This is likely to put the young population at risk.
Infection in Japan is increasing in the last two months, two weeks before the Olympics start on 23 July. 60 thousand athletes, coaches, journalists and others are expected to attend. Kentaro Iwata, a specialist in infectious diseases at Kobe University, says, "I'm not worried about the players. But sports can spread the virus across Japan.
The Olympic Organizing Committee has made a guideline for people coming to Japan for the Olympics. People have been given completely different instructions in the security bubble. IOC President Thomas Bech said on his arrival in Tokyo on Thursday that I had been waiting for this day for a year. He has assured that the athletes can come to Tokyo without any hesitation.
Most of the athletes are young and healthy, says Iwata. Meaning they are unlikely to fall seriously ill. 80% of the people attending the Games are expected to be vaccinated. On the other hand, 85% of Japan's population is yet to be vaccinated. Some people have been infected in events related to the Olympics. During the torch relay in May, 8 people were infected with the virus.
Players from four countries have been found infected. Hiroshi Nishiura, a member of the Ministry of Health's expert panel on the coronavirus and epidemiologist, questions whether the safety measures will stop cases of infection in Japan. Will the virus not spread in society due to the Covid-19 security circle of the Olympics?
Even experts can't say how strictly the security cover is followed. Virologist Hitoshi Oshitani, who designed Japan's Covid-19 strategy, has expressed concern over hosting thousands of foreign guests amid a new wave of the virus in many countries. Players from smaller Pacific countries with weak health facilities could also be at risk.
These island countries surrounded by sea have survived due to restrictions on the movement of outsiders. Oshitani says the virus will spread to Japan from the Olympics as volunteers and staff move from Tokyo to other places in the country. Many sports, including marathon races, football matches, will be held outside Tokyo. Surfing will also be out there.
Experts say that when the government hosts thousands of foreigners, it will be difficult to convince the Japanese, fed up with Covid-19 restrictions, to stay indoors for the summer holidays and change their behaviour. Oshitani says, many people believe that the government has imposed an emergency for the Olympics.
Many health experts say that the postponement of the Games is a safe option. Many Japanese agree with this. Last month, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper surveyed 1500 people. Of these, 62% had asked for the Tokyo Olympics to be canceled or postponed. The Games were postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic.
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